mindatrisk

Hi. I hope everyone is okay. I have recently been introduced to, and begun practicing, the concept of Wu Wei, having run into some brick walls in my life regarding certain goals I have. I discovered the I Ching about a year ago, and have been using that on and off since. I've read Taoist books before and found them attractive, but for the last ten years or so i've mainly practiced Buddhism, with a growing leaning to Zen Buddhism, which I find very similar to Taoism. I'm just here to learn. I want to live my life with effortless action and I want to understand and realise the philosophies of the I Ching. Thank you for having me here.

Hi. I did a search of the forums for 'Wu Wei' (effortless action etc.) but there were no results. Can anyone explain this for me? Maybe there is a different term that is used here, but as far as I understand from the small bit i've read on Taoism, Wu Wei is a central concept, so i'd like to read more about it here, and especially to hear about your experience of Wu Wei, how you practice it, the results that have followed etc. Thank you!

Thank you. I enjoyed reading this. I'm not sure how Wi Wei relates to the abilities of such a master martial artist. I suspect that their 'actions' are entirely spontaneous, and that, even when you challenge them, they have no thought, agenda etc. as to what will happen, rather it just happens.

Thank you for the replies, and thank you for the links to other relevant threads. I have a few ideas on what Wu Wei might be based upon other ideas that i've heard. One idea is that we each have a blueprint within us that is our 'highest' path / calling / nature etc. We see this blueprint in the rest of nature. For example, a rose bush has the blueprint of a rose bush within it and can only be a rose bush. Where humans differ is with that we seem to have some free-will. Each of us has our own unique blueprint within us, but we are free to ignore it and live whatever life our circumstances allow us. How can we know our blueprint? Our passions, interests, talents, inspiration excitement, enthusiasm, interests etc. all signal what our blueprint is. If we follow our passions etc. then - to the degree of commitment - we fulfil our blueprint. Wu Wei (effortless action) is the process of following our passions, interests, enthusiasms etc. Most of us will have had this experience at various times when we have 'acted' on inspiration or engaged in a passionate activity whereby we become immersed in what it is we are 'doing' and it has been easy, natural, flowing, no effort. For example, sometimes I play guitar and create pieces of music with such ease - no thought, no effort, no action being taken on my behalf, it just happens... it's a happening that occurs through me not an action that occurs because of me. So, this is how I am coming to understand Wu Wei. The key is to identify my passions (this requires some excavation), to immerse myself into moments of inspiration and let whatever will be unfold, and to attempt to translate this effortlessness into all moments, i.e. connecting the dots of excitement, moving from one inspiration to the next. I haven't experienced it yet, but I suspect it is as self-propogating process, i.e. the more that I engage with what inspires / excites me, then the more inspiration and excitement comes into my life to continue moving forwards. I'm not sure how well i've explained this, but my thoughts are coming together somewhat and I appreciate the opportunity to discuss it with others.